Feeding of webs of material



May 10, 1966 D. R. P. JACKSON FEEDING OF WEBS OF MATERIAL 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 30, 1963 M/l E/V70A aw z. @4040 8) Mal 4%; zfzw wan 477OB/VEX5 y 0, 1966 D. R. P. JACKSON 3,250,659

FEEDING OF WEBS OF MATERIAL Filed April 30, 1963 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 May 10, 1966 D. R. P. JACKSON FEEDING 0F WEBS OF MATERIAL 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed April 30, 1965 NF NN VN y 1956 D. R. P. JACKSON 3,25,659

FEEDING OF WEBS OF MATERIAL Filed April 30, 1963 4 Sheets-Sheet 4.

MAJ/469M wZ awm/a A 77'ORA/EX United States Patent 3,250,659 FEEDING 0F WEBS 0F MATERIAL Donald Richard Patrick Jackson, Deptford, London, England, assignor to The Molins Organisation Limited, a British company Filed Apr. 30, 1963, Ser. No. 276,846 Claims priority, application Great Britain, May 10, 1962,

18,013/ 62 16 Claims. (Cl. 156-519) This invention concerns improvements in or relating to the feeding of webs of material and in particular to the superimposition of narrow strips, known as tear-strips, to a web of material whilst the latter is being fed.

In wrapping articles, such as packages containing cigarettes, it is frequently the practice to feed a continuous web of wrapping material, such as that known under the registered trademark Cellophane, to superimpose thereon a narrow tear-strip, and to cut the wrapping material intosuitable lengths for wrapping around the articles. The tear strip is usually arranged to lie on the inside of the wrapping material (as considered when the article has been wrapped) and one end is arranged to project so that it can be pulled to tear the wrapper, whereby the article can readily be divested of its wrapping.

According to the present invention there is provided mechanism for producing tear-strips and applying the tearstrips to a web of wrapping material, in which tear-strips are severed from a web of tear-strip material by cutting the latter transversely of its length, comprising means to continuously feed the wrapper web, a movable (e.g. rotatable) knife arranged to co-act with a fixed knife to periodically sever a strip of the tear-strip material from its web, and a transfer member arranged to oscillate in timed relationship with the operation of the movable knife so as to be capable of moving a strip so severed from a position adjacent to the fixed knife into contact with the wrapper web so that it can be joined thereto, and of returning to move a further severed strip from the said position into contact with the wrapper web.

The width of the web of tear-strip material may be equal to the length of tear-strip to be applied, and the movable knife and fixed knife are arranged to cut the web of tear-strip material perpendicularly of its length. There may be provided means to apply solvent to he between the wrapper web and a tear-strip when the latter is applied to the former.

The transfer member may be arranged to hold the severed strip suctionally, and may be arranged to oscillate about a centre of rotation so as to move the severed strips in a substantially arcuate path. The wrapper web may be fed along a path which intersects the said arcuate path, whereby the severed strip can be held in contact with and moved at the same speed as the wrapper web for a periodof time, and there may be provided an element positioned so that the web of wrapping material travels between the element and the transfer member, and arranged to provide a counter-surface against which the web of wrapping material can be pressed as a tear-strip is applied thereto. The element may be arranged to move so that the counter-surface moves at substantially the same speed as the wrapper web duringthe said period of time. The element may be arranged to rotate so that the counter-surface moves in a path which interferes with the said arcuate path of a severed strip carried on the transfer member, at least one of the parts whose paths interfere being movable radially relatively to its centre of rotation.

There may be provided heating means to'heat a tearstrip and the wrapper web as they are being joined; for example the said counter-surface may be heated. The said element may comprise a support arranged to rotate about a fixed centre, and a heating strip resiliently mount- 3,Z5fi,65@ Patented May 10, 1966 ice ed on the said support so as to be movable radially relatively to its centre of rotation.

Mechanism in accordance with the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIGURE 1 is an end elevation,

FIGURE 2 shows part of FIGURE 1 drawn to a larger sca e,

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view on the line IIIIII of FIGURE 2,

FIGURE 4 is a front elevation of part of the mechanism shown in FIGURE 1,

FIGURE 5 is a view similar to FIGURE 2 showing alternative parts.

Referring to FIGURE 1, a web W of wrapping material passes about a guide roller 1, in conjunction with which a braking pad 2 acts to tension the web W, and about a driven roller 3. A ridge 4, running axially along the cylindrical face of the roller 3, forces the web W against a wick 5 which is in contact with suitable solvent, so that a stream of. solvent is applied across the width of the web W at selected positions, the peripheral speed of ridge 4 being the same as the linear speed of the web.

After leaving the roller 3 the web W passes about a guide roller 6, between an idle roller 7 and a segmental roller 7a, and then between feed rollers 8 and 9 to arotary cutting device 10. The purpose of the segmental roller 7a is described in copending US. Serial No. 200,- 245 filed June 5, 1962 and need not be described herein, the mechanism so far described being similar to the mechanism described in that application.

A continuous web T of tear-strip material, whose width is equal to the length of tear-strip to be applied, is intermittently fed by two feed rollers 11 and 12 past a fixed knife 13. The intermittent feed of the web T is such that a strip S, of length equal to the desired width of a tear-strip is fed past the knife 13 just before the cutting edge of a movable knife 14, fixed on a driven rotating member 15, co-acts with the cutting edge of the fixed knife 13.

A transfer member 16 having a longitudinal surface 17, through which suction is applied in a manner to be described later, is mounted on a shaft 18 and arranged to oscillate about the axis of the latter (which is perpendicular to the directions of feed of the webs W and T) to move the surface 17 from a position adjacent to the fixed knife 13 to a position adjacent to the wrapper web W, i.e from the position shown in full line in FIGURE 1 to the position shown in broken line in that figure. Thus the severed strip S can be carried on the surface 17, and moved in an arcuate path (shown in dot-and-dash line in FIGURE 1) into contact with the web W to be applied thereacross. As can be seen in FIGURE 1 the path of the web W intersects the path of the strip S so that the latter can be held in contact with, and moved at the same speed as the web by the member 16 for a period of time corresponding to the interference of the paths, the web W being raised slightly during that time. The member 16 is oscillated in timed relationship with the operation of v the movable knife 14 so as to receive the strip S as the latter is cut from the web T, and to move it anti-clockcarrying a heating strip in the form of a flat band 21. Rotation of the shaft 19 would cause the band 21, if free to do so, to follow the path indicated in dot-and-dash line, which interferes with the path of the surface 17. However, the band 21 is resiliently mounted on the support 20 (in a manner to be described later) so as to be movable radially relatively to the shaft 13. The shaft 19 is driven to continuously rotate the support 26 (in the direction shown by the arrow) in timed relationship with the movement of the member 16, so that the severed strip S is held in contact with the web W between the surface 17 and the band 21 for the said period of time, the interference of the paths being taken up by radial movement of the band 21. Thus the band 21 provides a moving counter surface against which the web W can be pressed and also heats the material to join the strip S to the web W.

Referring now to FIGURE 2, which illustrates means to oscillate the member 16 and means to apply suction through the surface 17, mounted on the shaft 19 for rotation therewith is a member 22 comprising a gear segment 23 and a cam portion 24. The gear segment 23 is arranged to engage the teeth of another gear segment 25 of a member 26 mounted on the shaft 13, and the cam portion 24 can engage another cam portion 27 also on the member 26. A spring (not shown) is provided to urge the member 16 to rotate clockwise as viewed in FIG- URE 2, towards the fixed knife 13. Thus continuous clockwise rotation (as viewed in FIGURE 2) of the member 22 causes the member 16 on the shaft 18 to oscillate in timed relationship with the movement of the support 2%, firstly by engagement of the gear segments 23 and 25 which causes anti-clockwise movement of the member 16, and then by spring pressure which causes clockwise movement of the member 16, such latter movement being controlled by engagement of the cams 24 and 27. This method ,of oscillation is fully described in British patent specification No. 811,914.

Suction ports 28, provided along the surface 17, con nected with a longitudinal hole 29 in the member 16 which communicates through ducts 30 with a hole 31 running axially through the shaft 18 (see also FIGURE 4). Referring now also to FIGURE 3, a pipe 32 connects the hole 31 to a hole 33 in a stationary member 34 mounted on a rotatable shaft 35, which is connected, through bearings indicated generally by the reference 36, to the shaft 37 of the rotatable knife carrying member 15. A rotatable disc 38, having an arcuate groove 39 which can register with the hole 33 is slidably mounted on the shaft and is urged by a spring 40 against the stationary member 34. A further disc 41, fixed by a nut 42 to the shaft 35 and resting against a shoulder as of the latter, provides a counter member for the spring 40. A screw 44, threaded through the disc 41 and positioned in a hole 45 in the disc 3% acts to rotate the latter with the shaft 35.

A suction fan (not shown) is connected by a pipe 46 to a hole 47 in the stationary member 34, with which the groove 39 can register (see FIGURE 2) and a further hole 4-8 through the member 34 can register with the groove 39 to allow atmospheric air to flow into the latter.

Thus, as the movable knife 14 rotates on its shaft 37, the shaft 35 rotates the disc 38. As the knife 14 severs a strip S from the web T, the groove 39 registers with the hole 33 in the stationary member 34, and suction is applied through the ports 28 in the surface 17, since the hole-47 is also in registry with the groove 39. The strip S is then received on and suctionally held to the transfer member 16, to be moved by the latter into contact with the web W as previously described. As the member 16 approaches its position shown in broken line in FIGURE 1, the groove 39 moves out of registry with the hole 47 and at the same time, the groove 39 moves into registry with the hole 48 which is open to atmosphere. The strip S therefore ceases to be held suctionally and is released from the surface 17 so that it can remain joined to the web W.

Referring now to FIGURE 4, which illustrates the resilient mounting of the heating band 21, the support 20 comprises a central portion 49 in which parts 50 yield ingly mounted on springs 51 can slide in holes radially directed relatively to the shaft 19. A plate 52 provides a counter-member for the springs 51, and the parts 50 are arranged to bear on the band 21, which is flexible and which is fixed to the support 20 at one end 53. The other end of the band 21 is attached to a movable part 54 which passes through an end portion 55 of the support 26, and is spring urged to the right as viewed in FIGURE 4 by a spring 56 to tension the band 21. The pressure of the springs 51 is greater than the pressure of the spring 56, so that when the band 21 is free to move outwardly, for example when the support 20 is in its position shown in FIGURE 1, the parts 50 bear on the band 21 under the action of the springs 51 and hold it, against the pressure of the spring 56, in the position in which it would follow the dot-and-dash circle shown in FIGURE 1. However, when the member 16, carrying the severed strip S, engages the band 21 as their paths interfere as previously described, the interference is taken up by radial movement of the band 21 relative to the shaft 19, such move ment being caused by the surface 17 pressing against the band 21 and against the pressure of the springs 51 so that the parts assume the position shown in FIGURE 4 (and FIGURE 2). The spring 56 serves to tension the band 21 throughout, and the parts 50, spring urged to bear on the band 21, serve to maintain the pressure exerted by the latter on the material to be joined substantially constant along its length.

Wires 57 and 58 connected to the part 54 and the end 53 provided electrical connections to the band 21 whereby the latter is heated. The wires 57 and 58 lead to slip rings and brushes (not shown) whereby the electrical connection to the band 21 is maintained as the support 20 is continuously rotated. i

It will be appreciated that, if desired, the member 16 could be resilient so that the surface 17 is movable radially relatively to the shaft 18. In this case the band 21 need not be radially movable relatively to the shaft 19 as the interference of the paths would be taken up by movement of the surface 17. As a further alternative both the band 21 and the member 16 could be resilient, the interference being taken up by a combined movement of both the band 21 and the surface 17.

FIGURE 5 illustrates an alternative arrangement for .oscillating the transfer member 16. In this arrangement the shaft 19 on which the support 20 is mounted carries a cam 59 which rotates with the shaft. The shaft 19 is provided with an annular groove 64) in which is slidably housed a rack 61, provided with gear teeth 62, and having a longitudinal slot 63. The rack 61 carries a cam-following roller 64 which is held aganist the cam 59 by means of a spring 65. The teeth 62 of the rack 61 mesh with the teeth 66 of a gear wheel 67 mounted on the shaft 18 of the transfer member 16. A rotatable roller 68, provided with an annular groove 69 in which the rack 61 is housed, acts as a guide for the rack.

In operation, rotation of the cam 55 (clockwise as viewed in FIGURE 5) with the support 2t} causes the rack 61 to move downwardly against the action of the spring 65, the cam pressing on the cam-following roller 64. The teeth 62 on the rack 61 mesh with the teeth 66 on the gear 67 and thus rotate the shaft 18 causing the transfer member 16 to swing clockwise as viewed in FIGURE 5 to a position adjacent the fixed knife 13 at which it can receive a tear-strip severed from the web T. The cam 59 then allows the rack 61 to move upwardly under the action of the spring 65, so that the gear 67 is rotated anti-clockwise as viewed in FIGURE 5 causing the transfer member 16 to move the tear-strip into contact with the web W. The annular grooves 60 and 69 in the shaft lg and roller 68 respectively provide guides for the rack 61 during its upward and downward knife, means to move the movable knife so that it can periodically co-act with the fixed knife to sever a strip of tear-strip material from its web by cutting the latter transversely of its length, a transfer member, and means to oscillate the transfer member in timed relationship with'the operation of the movable knife so that it can move a stripso severed from a position adjacent to the fixed knife into contact with the web of wrapping material to be joined thereto, and can return to move a further severed strip from the said position into contact with the wrapper web.

2. Mechanism as claimed in claim 1, comprising heating means to heat the web of wrapper material and a tear-strip as they are joined.

3. Mechanism as claimed in claim 2, comprising means to apply solvent to lie between the web of wrapping material and a tear-strip as the latter is applied to the former.

4. Mechanism for producing tear-strips and applying the tear-strips to a web of wrapping material, comprising means to continuously feed lengthwise a web of wrapping material, a fixed knife, means to feed lengthwise past the fixed knife a web of tear-strip material, a movable knife, means to move the movable knife so that it can periodically co-act with the fixed knife to sever a tearstrip from the Web of tear-strip material by cutting the latter transversely of its length, a transfer member, suction means associated with the transfer member so that a tear-strip can be suctionally held thereto, and means to oscillate the transfer member in timed relationship with the operation of the movable knife so that it can move a tear-strip, held by suction, from a position adjacent to the fixed knife into contact with the web of wrapping material, to be joined thereto, and can return to move a further tear-strip from the said position into contact with the wrapper web.

5. Mechanism for producing tear-strips and applying the tear-strips to a web of wrapping material, comprising a fixed knife, means to feed lengthwise past the fixed knife a web of tear-strip material, a movable knife, means to move the movable knife so that it can periodically co-act with the fixed knife to cut the Web of tear-strip material transversely of its length and sever a tear-strip therefrom, a transfer member mounted for oscillation, means to continuously feed lengthwise a web of wrapping material, means to oscillate the transfer member so that it can move a tear-strip from a position adjacent to the fixed knife into contact with the web of wrapper material, to apply the tear-strip thereto, and can return to move a further tear-strip from the said position, and an element having a counter-surface against which the web of wrapping material can be pressed as a tear-strip is applied thereto by the transfer member.

6. Mechanism for producing tear-strips and applying the tear-strips to a web of wrapping material, comprising means to continuously feed lengthwise a web of wrapping material, a fixed knife, means to feed lengthwise past the fixed knife a web of tear-strip material whose width is substantially equal to the desired length of the tearstrips, a movable knife, means to move the movable knife so that it can periodically co-act with the fixed knife to cut the web of tear-strip material substantially perpendicularly of its length and sever a tear-strip therefrom, a transfer member mounted for oscillation about an axis of rotation substantially perpendicular to the direction of feed of the web of wrapping material, and to the direction of feed of the web of tear-strip material,

and means to oscillate the transfer member about the said axis in timed relationship with the operation of the movable knife so that it can move a tear-strip in a substantially arcuate path from a position adjacent to the fixed knife into contact with the web of wrapping material,

to be applied thereacross, and can return to move a fur- I ther tear-strip from the said position.

7. Mechanism for producing tear-strips and applying the tear-strips to a web of wrapping material, comprising means to continuously feed lengthwise a web of wrap-' ping material, a fixed knife, means to feed lengthwise past the fixed knife a web of tear-strip material, a movable knife, means to move the movable knife so that it can periodically co-act with the fixed knife to sever a strip of tear-strip material from its web by cutting the latter transversely of its length,- a transfer member, means on which the transfer member is mounted so as to be capable of oscillating about a centre of rotation, means to oscillate the transfer member, in timed relationship with the operation of the movable knife, so that it can move a strip so severed in a substantially arcuate path from a position adjacent to the fixed knife into contact with the web of wrapping material, to be joined thereto, and can return to move a further severed strip from the said position into contact with the web of wrapping material.

8. Mechanism for producing tear-strips and applying the tear-strips to a web of wrapping material, comprising means to continuously feed lengthwise along a path a web of wrapping material, a fixed knife, means to feed lengthwise past the fixed knife a web of tear-strip material, a movable knife, means to move the movable knife so that it can periodically co-act with the fixed knife to cut the web of tear-strip material transversely of its length and sever a tear-strip therefrom, a transfer member,

. means on which the transfer member is mounted so as to be capable of oscillating about a centre of rotation, means to oscillate the transfer member in timed relationship with the operation of the movable knife, so that it can move a tear-strip so severed in a substantially arcuate path, which intersects the said path of the web of wrapping material, from a position adjacent to the fixed knife into contact with the web of wrapping material, whereby the tear-strip can be held in contact with, and moved at substantially the same speed as, the web of wrapping material for a period of time, and so that the transfer member can return to move a further severed strip from the said position into contact with the web of wrapping material.

9. Mechanism as claimed in claim 8-, comprising a movable element positioned so that the web of wrapping material passes between the said element and the transfer member, and arranged to provide a counter-surface against which the Web of wrapping material can be pressed as a tear-strip is applied thereto, and means to move the said element so that the counter-surface moves at substantially the same speed as the web of wrapping material during the said period of time.

10. Mechanism as claimed in claim 9, comprising heating means associated with the said element to heat the said counter-surface.

11. Mechanism for producing tear-strips and applyin the tear-strips to a web of wrapping material, comprising means to continuously feed lengthwise along a path a web of wrapping material, .a fixed knife, means to feed lengthwise past the fixed knife a web of tear-strip material, a movable knife, means to move the movable knife so that it can periodically co-act with the fixed knife to cut the web of tear-strip material transversely of its length and sever .a tear-strip therefrom, a transfer member mounted for movement about a centre of rotation, an element positioned so that the web of wrapping material passes between the said element and the transfer member, and mounted for rotation, means to oscillate the transfer member about its centre of rotation in timed relationship with the operation of the movable knife so that the transfer member can move a tear-strip severed from the web of tear-strip material from a position adjacent to the fixed knife in a substantially arcuate path, which intersects the said path of the web of wrapping material, into contact with the latter, and can return to move a further tear-strip from the said position, and means to rotate the said element in timed relationship with the movement of the transfer member, the said element having a countersurface against which the web of wrapping material can be pressed as a tear-strip is applied thereto, and which is arranged to move in a path which interferes with the said arcuate path of a tear-strip carried on the transfer memher, at least one of the parts Whose paths interfere being movable radially relatively to its centre of rotation, whereby a tear-strip can be held in contact with the web of wrapping material between the transfer member. and the counter-surface of the said element for a period of time during which it is joined to the web.

12. Mechanism as claimed in claim 11, wherein the said element comprises a support arranged to rotate about the said centre of rotation, and a heating strip resiliently mounted on the said support so as to be movable radially relatively to its centre of rotation, the said heating strip providing the said counter-surface and being arranged to heat the web of Wrapping material and a tear-strip during the said period of time.

13. Mechanism for producing tear-strips and applying the tear-strips to a Web of wrapping material, comprising means to continuously feed lengthwise along a path a web of wrapping material, a fixed knife, means to feed lengthwise past the fixed knife a web of tear-strip material, a movable knife, means to move the movable knife so that it can periodically co-act with the fixed knife to cut the Web of tear-strip material transversely of its length and sever a tear-strip therefrom, a transfer member mounted for movement about a centre of rotation, means to oscillate the transfer member about its centre of rotation in 8, timed relationship with the operation of the movable knife, so that the transfer member can move a tear-strip from a position adjacent to the fixed knife into contact with the web of wrapping material in a substantially arcuate path which intersects the said path of the web of wrapping material, and can hold the tear-strip in such contact for a period of time whilst moving it at substantially the same speed as the web of wrapping material, and can return to move a further tear-strip from the said position, suction means associated with the transfer member so that a tear-strip can be suctionally held thereto while it is moved in the said arcuate path, a movable element having a counter-surface against which the web of wrapping material can be pressed as a tear-strip is applied thereto, and means to move the said element so that the counter-surface moves at substantially the same speed as the web of wrapping material during the said period of time. t i

14. Mechanism as claimed in claim 13, comprising means on which the said element is mounted for rotation, and wherein the said means to move the element comprise means to rotate the element so that its counter surface moves in a path which interferes with the said arcuate path of a tear-strip carried on the transfer member, at least one of the parts whose paths interfere being movable radially relatively to its centre of rotation.

15. Mechanism as claimed in claim 14 comprising heating means associated with the said element and arranged to heat the said counter-surface.

16. Mechanism as claimed in claim 15, comprising means to apply solvent to lie between a tear-strip and the web of wrapping material when the former is applied to the latter.

No references cited.

EARL M. BERGERT, Primary Examiner.

D. I. DRUMMOND, Assistant Examiner. 

1. MECANISM FOR PRODUCING TEAR-STRIPS AND APLYING THE TEAR-STRIPS TO A WEB OF WRAPING MATERIAL, COMPRISING MEANS TO CONTINUOUSLY FEED LENGHTWISE A WEB OF WRAPPING MATERIAL, A FIXED KNIFE, MEANS TO FEED LENGTHWISE PAST THE FIXED KNIFE A WEB OF TEAR-STRIP MATERIAL, A MOVABLE KNIFE, MEANS TO MOVE THE MOVABLE KNIFE SO THAT IS CAN PERIODICALLY CO-ACT WITH THE FIXED KNIFE TO SEVER A STRIP OF TEAR-STRIP MATERIAL FROMITS WEB BY CUTTING THE LATTER TRANSVERSELY OF ITS LENGTH, A TRANSFER MEMBER, AND MEANS TO OSCILLATE THE TRANSFER MEMBER IN TIMED RELATIONSHIP WITH THE OPERATION OF THE MOVABLE KNIFE SO THAT IT CAN MOVE A STRIP SO SEVERED FROM A POSITION ADJACENT TO THE FIXED KNIFE INTO CONTACT WITH THE WEB OF WRAPPING MATERIAL TO BE JOINED THERETO, AND CAN RETURN TO MOVE A FURTHER SEVERED STRIP FROM THE SAID POSITION INTO CONTACT WITH THE WRAPPER WEB. 